Minister of Local Government and Community Development Noel Arscott says his ministry is moving aggressively to provide a modern legal framework that will effectively regulate and manage buildings and building-related activities, to ensure safety in the built environment.

"We are moving aggressively to ensure the promulgation of the National Disaster Risk Management Bill that will provide a modern legal framework for the effective regulation and control of activities to ensure public safety and welfare, minimise damage due to natural or man-made hazards and promote sustainable development," the minister told the House, during his contribution to the 2012/13 Sectoral Debate on June 26.

The Bill includes the establishment of 'No-Build Zones', "so as to finally ensure that building on the banks of gullies, waterways and rivers becomes a thing of the past," Minister Arscott said.

He explained that the development of a modern legislative framework is "particularly urgent and relevant in view of the critical need to reduce the vulnerability of the built environment to the ravages of natural and man-made disasters."

Arscott said he has reviewed the Bill and has settled some policy issues and a new submission will be made shortly to the Legislation Committee.

In the meantime, he said that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Manage-ment has embarked on a Landslides Mitigation Project, which will reduce the risks and impact of disasters on communities, including buildings on gully banks. The aim of the project is to build a disaster-resilient nation through comprehensive disaster management training, public education and awareness, he said.